Media Release: Award winners due to come to Scotland

A NUMBER of award-winning acts are heading for Scotland from Scandinavia at the beginning of April.

They include a member of Norway’s winning team for Eurovision 2009, the Norwegian Folk Musician of the Year 2010 and two winners of Danish Folk Awards.

Anders Aasberg is a founding member of FRIKAR dance company, who won the Eurovision 2009 Choreography prize, along with the competition’s winning song – a rare double award!

Continuing with the winning theme, we have invited winners of two Danish Folk Music Awards 2009, fiddler/singer – Hal Parfitt Murray and keyboard/accordionist – Nikolaj Busk.

The duo last performed in Edinburgh as part of the group ‘One Fine Day’ which brought together young musicians from Scotland, France, Sweden and Denmark.

Rounding off the set of winners is Sigrid Molestad and her band. Sigrid was named Norwegian Folk Musician of the Year in 2010. Her repertoire covers folk music of the Western fjords of Norway to blues to translations of Robert Burns songs.

Also on the festival programme are Nu-Nordic band, Fribo (Norway/Scotland/Sweden); the Celtic Nyckelharpa Project (Scotland/Sweden); James MacDonald Reid (Scotland) and the Dancing Danes (Denmark).

Northern Streams organiser, Fiona Campbell, said “I’m pleased we have such a high calibre line-up to offer audiences and participants in Scotland this year.

“I’m also happy that we have been able to re-invite the performers who couldn’t make it last year, due to a certain Icelandic volcano erupting the day before the festival. They should be worth the wait!”

Northern Streams 2011 will run from 1-3 April in venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Further details on the concerts, workshops and sessions taking place are at www.eltmsa.org.uk.

Editors notes:

Publicity photos of all the performers are available electronically please tel: 07951 918366 or email: eltmsa@yahoo.co.uk for them or any other queries.

Northern Streams 2011 showcases groups often new to Scottish audiences and offers opportunities to learn about traditional music, song, dance and storytelling of the different cultures. It is organised by the Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA) Edinburgh & Lothians Branch. Details at www.eltmsa.org.uk. Visit www.tmsa.org.uk for more information about the TMSA.

Northern Streams has been funded by Voluntary Arts Scotland’s Make a Splash! grant scheme – part of People Making Waves, co-ordinated by Volunteer Development Scotland. People Making Waves is part of The Scottish Project, which will create a cultural legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games in Scotland. It is supported by Legacy Trust UK and by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. The Make a Splash! grant scheme is administered on behalf of Voluntary Arts Scotland by the Scottish Community Foundation.

Thanks also for help from the Norwegian Consulate General and Nancie Massey Charitable Trust, plus thanks to Dance Base, Dance House and Dance HQ for their assistance.

Northern Streams is part of the Ceilidh Culture programme. Ceilidh Culture is Edinburgh’s annual showcase of traditional arts, held in the spring of each year. Featuring a wide range of organisations, both professional and voluntary, it showcases the best of home-grown talent alongside acts from across the world, with local performers as well as international stars from all sectors of the traditional arts. More information at: www.ceildhculture.co.uk

We have included the following listing information for the Northern Streams Festival 2011 so you have it all in one place!:

Northern Streams 2011 Programme: 1-3 April 2011 for listings

Music, song and dance from Scandinavia and Scotland

EVENING CONCERTS

Friday 1 April Norway, Sweden and Scotland Concert 7.30pm £10/8

The Pleasance Theatre, 60 The Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ

Norwegian Folk Musician of the Year 2010, fiddler and singer Sigrid Moldestad and band performs her own material, as well as translations of Burns’ songs – mixing the music of the fjords with folk-blues-rock. Fribo (‘Open House’), made up of fellow Norwegian singer Anne Sofie Linge Valdal, Scottish fiddler Hannah Read, Edinburgh guitarist Ewan MacPherson and Swedish percussionist Magnus Lundmark, has toured the UK, North America, and Europe. “…zestful, vibrant, multi-national North Sea sound” Womad The evening includes a Halling dance performance from Eurovision 2009 winning dancer, Anders Aasberg.

Saturday 2 April Scotland, Sweden and Denmark Concert 7.30pm £10/8

The Pleasance Theatre, The Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ

Celtic Nyckelharpa Project are Gavin Pennycook (nyckelharpa – Swedish keyed fiddle), Rob Truswell (guitar) and Esther Kuck (bodhran). They will be performing tracks from their recently produced first album of Scottish and Irish dance music using the unique sound of the nyckelharpa. Scottish-Australian fiddler and singer, Hal Parfitt-Murray, and Danish Nikolaj Busk’s first album, Hal & Nikolaj, won Debut of the Year at the Danish Folk Music Awards 2009 where Nikolaj also won Composer of the Year. ―…something really special” Roots Zone. They will be joined by members of The Dancing Danes, a group of young internationally travelled dancers, showcasing rare competitive Danish male dances.

WORKSHOPS

Saturday 2 April £8/6 each workshop. The Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ

Choice of two workshops per slot. Tune workshops suitable for any melody instrument.

£5 per child (children must be accompanied by an adult who can join in – and will be admitted free).

Come with us on a journey through music, song, dance and story drawing on the different traditions of Scotland, presented by James MacDonald Reid (Artistic Director of the Drumalban Folk Ensemble) and friends. Of Argyll origins, James has always been interested in Scottish traditions and how they connect to other traditions across Europe. Recently, he has been researching living Slavic and Norse folklore. This session is most suitable for ages five-plus but fun for all!

Norway: With many moves similar to breakdancing and streetdance, the traditional Halling dance form wowed Eurovision audiences when Norway won the 2009 song contest and choreography prize when performed by members of the group — Frikar. And now you can learn directly from one of those winners — Anders Aasberg.

Scotland: James MacDonald Reid and friends will give you an insight into and chance to try the older style of male Highland dance for yourself.

Denmark: The Dancing Danes, formed from top young dancers from across Denmark to perform internationally, will be teaching and demonstrating both couple dances and the rarer male Danish dances.

NB: Both male and female participants are welcome!

Dance Sessions Each session: £7/5 (day ticket £20/£15)

1.00-2.30pm: Scotland — James MacDonald Reid and friends

2.45-4.15pm: Norway — Halling dance with Anders Aasberg

4.30-6.00pm: Denmark — with the Dancing Danes

Ceilidh & Dance Performance 7.00pm. £8/6 (or free as part of day ticket). Indulge in a wee bit of dancing, music, song, story and seeing what has taken place at earlier sessions. Featuring performances of Norwegian Halling dance with Anders Aasberg, the male form of Scottish Highland dancing with James MacDonald Reid and friends, and the Dancing Danes. PLUS bring your dancing shoes to enjoy the fun with ceilidh dances in between with music and calling from John Somerville & co. All welcome!

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for all Edinburgh and Glasgow events available through the Ceilidh Culture Box Office, Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh: www.ceilidhculture.co.uk/www.usherhall.co.uk or tel: 0131 228 1155 or on the door. (NB: a small booking fee applies to web and phone bookings but not to those made in person).

Edinburgh Weekend ticket £32/£25: the two Edinburgh evening concerts and up to three Edinburgh workshops – save up to £12! (Please specify which workshops at the time of booking).

Glasgow Day Ticket £20/£15: the three workshops and ceilidh — save up to £9! NB: Weekend/Day Tickets only available from the Ceilidh Culture Box Office over the phone or in person or on the door.

PLUS Tuesday 12 April (and every second Tuesday of the month) TMSA Edinburgh and Lothians Branch Singers Session 8pm onwards The Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT FREE! A chance to get together and sing in a social setting, this session is primarily for singers – unaccompanied or accompanied. To check dates and for more information: www.eltmsa.org.uk

If you would like more information on the performers you can click through to. http://www.tmsa.org.uk/documents/NorthernStreams2011moreinformationonperformers2.pdf